Slideway construction

ABSTRACT

A support rail in a slideway for pusher furnaces includes at least one elongated tubular support member having a longitudinally extending surface portion thereon. A pair of raised ribs are rigid with the support member and extend longitudinally thereof at opposite sides of the surface portion. An elongated rider shoe of polygonal cross section has longitudinally extending wider and narrower surfaces and is supported with one of the narrower surfaces on the surface portion of a tubular member, resting loosely thereon between the ribs which support it.

United States aent [72] lnventors Gunter Hepp Oberhausen; Christian Brockmann, Essen; Hans Christoph Pohl, Nort near Neus, Germany [21] Appl. No. 767,581

[22] Filed Oct. 1, 1968 [45] Patented Jan. 5, 1971 [73] Assignee Koppers-Wistra-Ofenbau Gesellschaft Mit Beschrankter Haitung, Essen, Germany [32] Priority Sept. 30, 1967 3 3 Germany [54] SLIDEWAY CONSTRUCTION 14 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 263/6 [51] Int. Cl F27b 9/14 50 FieldofSearch 263/6 6B [56] References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS 1,351,487 12/1963 France 263/6B Primary Examiner-John J. Camby Attorney-Michael S. Striker ABSTRACT: A support rail in a slideway for pusher furnaces includes at least one elongated tubular support member having a longitudinally extending surface portion thereon. A pair of raised ribs are rigid with the support member and extend longitudinally thereof at opposite sides of the surface portion. An elongated rider shoe of polygonal cross section has longitudinally extending wider and narrower surfaces and is supported with one of the narrower surfaces on the surface portion of a tubular member, resting loosely thereon between the ribs which support it.

PATENTEU JAN 5197! SHEET 2 OF 2 INVENTOR 1 SLIDEWAY CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to slideways, and more specifically to slideways such as find use in pusher furnaces and the like.

The use of slideways, especially'in pusher furnaces and for similar applications, is well known. They are provided to facilitate transportation of materials which are to be treated through the various zones of the furnace. Their use makes it possible to have the material to be treated exposed substantially at all sides, that is at its upper side and at its lower side and at its lateral sides, whereby the treatment is mademore uniform and can be carried more quickly.

A problem with such slideways has always been to tryand avoid the development of dark strips at the surfaces of the material which come in contact with thecbntact surfaces of the slideway. The reasonfor the development of such dark strips is the heat exchange which takes place between the material being treated and the contact of the surface slideways, the latter being cold. Aside from this slideways materials and less satisfactory slideway constructions. thereby necessitating the acceptance of the .developmenLof dark strips.

Generally speaking it is of course well known that high temperatures capable of avoiding or inhibiting development of dark strips on the material being treated can be obtained inv the rider shoes by two measures which may be used individually or in combination, namely byhavin'g the rider shoe be in good heatexchanging contact with the hot material being treated but having it be insulated as thoroughly as possible with respect to the cooled tubular support member, or by having the rider shoe provided with surfaces which are exposed as much as possible to the elevatedtemperature of the ambient atmosphere. In the latter caseextreme insulation with reference to the-cooled tubular support member is not necessary because the ambient atmosphere supplies substantially as much heat to the rider shoe as is drained from the same to the tubular support member, This makes it possible to impart to the rider shoe at least in its upper regions'adjacentits area of contact with the material being treated any requisite tempera-' ture and this, in turn, of course theoretically makes it possible i to control the drain of heat to the tubular member.

again if the temperature in the furnace is intentionally raised I to increase the treating speed. 1

Basically, slideways which are known in the art consist of a tubular member through which a coolingfluid such as water is circulated, and supported on this tubular member connected therewith are so-called slide shoes on which the material to be treated slides along. Located intermediate the tubular member and'the slide shoes, which latter consist of highly in order to be able to maintain these surfaces at such high temperatures, it is necessary to utilize materials for the rider shoes which are very highly resistant to heat and which are, ac-- cordingly, particularly expensive. Thisis evidently a disadvantage. Y 1

A further disadvantage is the fact that in known constructions the rider shoes either directly embrace the cooled tubular support member or are located in atrou'gh consisting of the tubular support member and supporting rails which are so welded to the support member as to extendlaterally along the same. In either case, the construction is always such in theprior art that there is an extensive heat exchange between the Based on these considerations it is an object of this invention to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages of existing constructions. More particularly it, is an object of the present invention to provide a slideway construction not pos- Y sessed of the aforementioned disadvantages.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a slideway construction which is simple but highly effective in eliminating the development of dark strips on material being treated and sliding on the slideway,abut which is at the same time very economical in its construction.

An additional object of the invention is to provide such a slideway construction wherein the rider shoes are much lighter than is known from prior art constructions and may have any desired configuration, being also-capable-of assuming any desired contact surface temperature.

Furthermore it is an object of the invention to provide such a construction wherein the rider shoemay be removed for inspection or replacement in a verysimple manner, can be manufactured readily and quickly,"andfis stabilized by the rider shoe and the tubular support member or, putting this differently, that the rider shoe is subjected to. an intensive drop in its temperature as it loses heat to thetubular support member and thereby to the cooling means used for the same. As a cooling action of the tubular support member without, however, being deprived of its ability to assume any desired contact surface temperature.

SUMMARY or THE i vE rlo In accordance with the above objects, and others which will become apparent hereafter, one feature of our invention resides in the provision,'in a slideway .which is particularly suitable for pusher furnaces but also for other applications, of at least one elongated tubular support element which is internally cooled and has a longitudinally extending surface portion.'A pair of raised ribs is rigid with the tubular support element and extends longitudinally thereof at opposite sides of this surface portion.- At least one elongated rider shoe or polygonal gross section has cross section has longitudinally extending wider and narrower surfaces. The rider shoe is positioned between and supported by the guide ribs and loosely rests on the surface portion of the tubular support elemen with one of its narrower surfaces.

Further, transversely extending members may be provided on the tubular element, for instance by being welded thereon, and extending into recesses in the abutment surface of the rider shoe to relieve the stresses exerted upon the latter in longitudinal direction by the advancing material being treated. Further, the underside or abutment face of the rider shoe may be provided with depressions or recesses in which thermally insulating material may .be located which-is not subjected to any weight or pressures. These depressions or recesses may be so configurated, for instance they may be of swallowtail or dovetail configuration, that each rider shoe rests on the surface portion of the tubular element only with a plurality of contact portions or feet rather than with its entire abutting surface. Of course, the tubular support element will be insulated in suitable manner which is already known from the art.

It should be pointed out that the width of the rider shoe may be selected in dependence upon the load carrying ability of the material used at the temperature which exists at the contact surface with which the rider shoe contacts the material being advanced along the contact surface. The height and the width of the rider shoe have a predetermined relationship which can be readily determined by those skilled in the art, so as to assure that the contact surface will reach the desired elevated temperatures. If the rider shoe is of relatively small width it will be of massive construction, but if it is of greater width its underside will be recessed so that there will be a groove or depression extending in longitudinal direction of the rider shoe. This on the one hand serves to reduce the quantity .of material required for manufacturing the rider shoe and on the other hand reduces the surface area through which heat exchange can occur between the rider shoe and the surface of the cooled tubular support member. In this type of construction the cross section of the rider shoe will be substantially that of an inverted U.

To further facilitate the stabilization and positioning of the rider shoe the construction may be provided with a rail which is advantageously welded to the surface portion of the tubular support member intermediate the lateral ribs and which is located in the longitudinally extending recess or groove. This rail need not be continuous.

The lateral ribs are welded to the longitudinally extending surface portion of the tubular member, the latter being given any desired cross-sectional configuration, for instance polygonal, and the relationship of their height and thickness is so selected that maximum permissible temperatures within each rib will not be exceeded at any operational temperature of the furnace. This guarantees that the ribs always have the strength necessary for reliably retaining the rider shoes. The welded connection between the ribs and the tubular support member facilitates the desired cooling effect upon the ribs.

. The rider shoes advantageously will have a length on the order of I meter. This makes it possible for each rider shoe to absorb the longitudinally directed thrust of the material being treated despite the thermal expansion of the rider shoes, and the lateral thrust decreases as the material moves from one to the next consecutive rider shoe. In other words, the thrust cannot build up because the buildup is interrupted.

To guard the rider shoes further against undesired lifting out of contact with the surface portion of the tubular support element they may be provided with one or more transverse bores, for instance near midway between their opposite ends, and a bolt may be extended through such a bore and secured to lugs which are welded to the tubular support member at opposite sides of the rider shoe.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a transverse section through a construction embodying our invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section through the embodiment shown in FIG. 1; I

FIG. 3 is a transverse section through a construction according to another embodiment of our invention; and

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section through the embodiment of FIG.3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Discussing now the drawing in detail, and firstly FIGS; I and 2 thereof, it will be seen that reference numeral [indicates thetubular support element which may be of any desired crosssectional configuration, not being limited-to;;th.e one shown herein. A cooling fluid, usually water, is circulated through the element 1 to cool the same. Reference numeral liden tifles. one rider shoe which loosely rests.on t he.; upper. longitudinally extending surface portion of the element LI The cross -sec-' tional configuration of the rider shoe 2in this embodiment is clearly visible. It will be seen that the ride lfoe 2 rests with a narrower surface portion on the longitud ally extending surface portion of the element 1. v; v 7

Located at opposite sides of the rider shoewelded to the: tubular element 1 are two ribs 3 extending in longitudinal direction of the element 1 and the rider shoe 2 is located between them so as to be supported thereby against lateral movement. Intermediate the ribs 3 thereis a rail 7 welded to the tubular support element 1 and the abutment surface or tinderside of the rider shoe 2 is provided with a longitudinally a tending recess or groove 6 in which the rail 7 is locatedQTher rail 7 need not be continuous, as has'been pointed out earlier. As a result of the provision of the recess 6 there are two flanks 10 provided on the rider shoe 2 which are located at opposite lateral sides of the rail 7, as illustrated, whereby the rider shoe is guided and maintained in predetermined position I Reference numeral 4 indicates an abutment member'which' is also welded onto the tubular element l, but extending transversely of the elongation thereof, and which extends into a depression 5 in the underside of the rider shoe 2 so as to secure the latter against longitudinal advancement when the material to be treated moves over its contact surface, that is to withstand the longitudinal thrust. To furthersecure the rider shoe 2 and maintain it in predetermined position it is provided: in the illustrated embodiment with a transverse bore thro ugh which a bolt 9 extends. The opposite ends of the bolt 9are secured in lugs which are welded to the tubular element 1 at opposite lateral sides of the rider shoe 2.

As FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate, the entire construction with the exception of the upper exposed portion of the rider shoe 2 is surrounded with insulating material 1 which is already known in the art and which need not be further described. The manner of insulating is also known, it may be applied in form of blocks or in form of compacted insulating material. It should be noted, however, that at the opposite lateral sides of the rider shoe 1 the insulating material does not quite contact the lateral faces of the rider shoe so that a gap exists between each lateral face and the adjacent insulating material. To cover this gap the rider shoe in the illustrated embodiment is provided with longitudinally extending projections 15 which overlie each of these gaps and which are tapered in cross-sectional configuration in the manner of a gable roof.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 the rider shoe 2 consists in its entirety of material which is highly resistant to heat.. To reduce the quantity of such material needed for the con-- struction of the rider shoe, keeping in mind that it is primarily that portion of the rider shoe 2 which is located closer to the: material being treated which must consist'of such highly heat resistant material, it is contemplated that the rider shoe be of two-piece construction. In this case the lower part of the rider shoe, that is the one which is closer to the tubular support member and farther from the material being treated, may con sist of less expensive material which is not as resistant to heat: Naturally, the two parts must then be suitably secured to one; another.

This embodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 wherein the reference numerals which are identical with thoseof FIGS: I} and 2 identify elements which are identical with the elements:- shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The main difference h'eie is the com struction of the rider shoe which, as is evident, consists of an upper part 2a and lower part 2b. The upper part 2a consists of K highly heat-resistant material whereas the lower part 2b con sists of material which is less resistant to heat than that'of'thew then secure the strips to that portion with which they are not integral, thereby connecting the portions 2:: and 2b to one another. Of course, instead of strips-the portions 12 may be configurated as tongues or the like.

To absorb longitudinal thrust and prevent relative longitudinal movement between the portions 2a and 2b the juxtaposed abutment surfaces of the ;two portions may be provided with interengaging projections and depressions, here identified as teeth 14 of substantially trapezoidal configuration.

We would like to point out that the term rider shoe as applied herein is not intended to designate a particular type or configuration of element on which the material to be treated will slide. Rather, and contrary to any general connotation the term may have, it is intended to be generic to all types of such sliding elements on which the material to be treated is to slide along.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by vapplying current knowledge readily adaptit for'various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

We claim:

1. In a slideway, particularly for pusher furnaces, the combination comprising at least one elongated tubular support element having a longitudinally extending surface portion; a pair of raised ribs rigid with said tubular support element and extending longitudinally thereof at opposite sides of said surface portion; at least one elongated rider shoe of polygonal cross section having longitudinally extending wider and narrower surfaces, said rider shoe being positioned between and supported by said guide ribs and loosely resting on said surface portion with one of said narrower surfaces; at least one longitudinally extending groove provided in said one narrower surface; and a guide rail provided on saidsurface portion, rigid therewith and extending longitudinally thereof intermediate said ribs, said guide rail extending into said-groove for stabilizing said rider shoe. j

2. In a slideway as defined in claim 1; further comprising at least one recess provided in said one narrower surface and extending transversely of said groove; and at least one abutment rib provided on said surface portion extending transversely of the elongation of said tubular element and being at least in part accommodated in said recess,

3. In a slideway as defined in claim 2. wherein at least said abutment rib is of polygonal cross section.

4. in a slideway as defined in claim I. said tubular element being internally cooled.

5. In a slideway as defined in claim 4, said rider shoe having opposite ends and being provided with at least one transverse hole intermediate said ends; and further comprising bolt means extending through said hole and rigidly connecting said rider shoe with said tubular element.

6. In a slideway as defined in claim I, said rider shoe being of substantially U-shaped cross section with the open side of the U-shape facing said surface portion and constituting said groove into which said rail extends.

7. In a slideway as defined inclaim. 1, said rail comprising at least two longitudinally aligned sections.

8. In a slideway as defined in claim 4, said one narrower surface being provided with a plurality of recesses whereby only spaced parts of said one narrower surface contact said surface portion; and thermally insulating material received in said recesses.

9. In a slideway as defined in claim 8, said thermally insulatand in part embedding said rider shoe, the latter being exposed to the extend requisite for enabling free sliding movement of a supported article on a supporting surface of the rider shoe.

11. In a slideway as defined in claim 10, said insulating means comprising an insulating substance extending toward but out of contact with said rider'shoe so that gaps exist between opposite lateral sides of the latter and the insulating Y substance; and further comprising longitudinally extending ridges provided on said rider shoe projecting laterally thereof and each overlying one of said gaps.

12. In a slideway as defined in claim 4,,said rider shoe consisting of a lower part and an upper part, said upper part consisting of material which has higher resistance to heat than said lower part; and means rigidly connecting said parts to one another.

13. In a slideway as defined in claim l2, said means comprising connecting strips rigid with opposite lateral sides of one of said parts and overlying opposite lateral sides of the other part, and releasable connecting elements connecting said strips with said other part.

14. In a slideway as defined in claim vl3, said parts having respective abutment surfaces; and said means further comprising mating projections and recesses provided on the respective abutment surfaces and matingly interengaging with each other. 

1. In a slideway, particularly for pusher furnaces, the combination comprising at least one elongated tubular support element having a longitudinally extending surface portion; a pair of raised ribs rigid with said tubular support element and extending longitudinally thereof at opposite sides of said surface portion; at least one elongated rider shoe of polygonal cross section having longitudinally extending wider and narrower surfaces, saiD rider shoe being positioned between and supported by said guide ribs and loosely resting on said surface portion with one of said narrower surfaces; at least one longitudinally extending groove provided in said one narrower surface; and a guide rail provided on said surface portion rigid therewith and extending longitudinally thereof intermediate said ribs, said guide rail extending into said groove for stabilizing said rider shoe.
 2. In a slideway as defined in claim 1; further comprising at least one recess provided in said one narrower surface and extending transversely of said groove; and at least one abutment rib provided on said surface portion extending transversely of the elongation of said tubular element and being at least in part accommodated in said recess.
 3. In a slideway as defined in claim 2, wherein at least said abutment rib is of polygonal cross section.
 4. In a slideway as defined in claim 1, said tubular element being internally cooled.
 5. In a slideway as defined in claim 4, said rider shoe having opposite ends and being provided with at least one transverse hole intermediate said ends; and further comprising bolt means extending through said hole and rigidly connecting said rider shoe with said tubular element.
 6. In a slideway as defined in claim 1, said rider shoe being of substantially U-shaped cross section with the open side of the U-shape facing said surface portion and constituting said groove into which said rail extends.
 7. In a slideway as defined in claim 1, said rail comprising at least two longitudinally aligned sections.
 8. In a slideway as defined in claim 4, said one narrower surface being provided with a plurality of recesses whereby only spaced parts of said one narrower surface contact said surface portion; and thermally insulating material received in said recesses.
 9. In a slideway as defined in claim 8, said thermally insulating material being freely received in said recesses and not weighted and compressed.
 10. In a slideway as defined in claim 4; and further comprising thermal insulating means embedding said tubular member and in part embedding said rider shoe, the latter being exposed to the extend requisite for enabling free sliding movement of a supported article on a supporting surface of the rider shoe.
 11. In a slideway as defined in claim 10, said insulating means comprising an insulating substance extending toward but out of contact with said rider shoe so that gaps exist between opposite lateral sides of the latter and the insulating substance; and further comprising longitudinally extending ridges provided on said rider shoe projecting laterally thereof and each overlying one of said gaps.
 12. In a slideway as defined in claim 4, said rider shoe consisting of a lower part and an upper part, said upper part consisting of material which has higher resistance to heat than said lower part; and means rigidly connecting said parts to one another.
 13. In a slideway as defined in claim 12, said means comprising connecting strips rigid with opposite lateral sides of one of said parts and overlying opposite lateral sides of the other part, and releasable connecting elements connecting said strips with said other part.
 14. In a slideway as defined in claim 13, said parts having respective abutment surfaces; and said means further comprising mating projections and recesses provided on the respective abutment surfaces and matingly interengaging with each other. 